Tamadher Al-Sabah: "Marafiq Al-Zour" Strengthens Energy Supplies

The Ministry of Oil organized a virtual panel discussion titled “Importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Meet Power Plants’ Needs During the Summer Peak Period and the Role of the Al-Zour Facilities in Covering the Rising Demand for Natural Gas in the State of Kuwait.” The session featured Abdullah Al-Ajmi, Head of the Gas Group Operations Team at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), and Salah Bahzad, Head of the Operations Department at KPC. The event was attended by staff from the Technical Services Affairs Sector, as well as guests from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, the Public Authority for Environment, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), the General Administration of Information Technology, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Central Statistical Bureau, and members of the media.

At the outset of the discussion, Sheikh Tamadher Al-Sabah, Director of Petroleum Public Relations and Media at the Ministry of Oil, emphasized that the Al-Zour LNG import facilities play a crucial role within Kuwait’s energy supply system. She noted that their operational capabilities provide the necessary flexibility for supply and support the continuous provision of fuel to power and water plants, particularly during the summer months when demand rises sharply.

She added that the importance of the Al-Zour facilities stems from the integration of their operational system, which begins with receiving LNG supplies from global markets and providing strategic storage capacities, proceeds through regasification, and culminates in pumping gas according to consumer network requirements. This process supports supply reliability and enhances the ability to handle the demands of the summer peak season. She further stated that the Ministry of Oil is committed to supporting projects and initiatives related to the energy sector that contribute to meeting the country’s needs and keeping pace with development requirements. She pointed out that the Al-Zour facilities serve as a model for the importance of energy infrastructure in linking global LNG supplies with local market needs, thereby serving the requirements of power and water plants and supporting the flexibility of the supply system.

**Operational System**

During the presentation, Engineers Abdullah Al-Ajmi and Salah Bahzad discussed the role of the Al-Zour LNG import facilities in meeting energy needs during the summer peak. They explained that the facilities operate as a strategic operational system that supports fuel continuity for power and water plants and enhances supply flexibility. This is achieved by providing a flexible global source of natural gas, a strategic reserve that raises consumer network reliability, regasification of LNG, pumping according to network requirements, and maintaining operational readiness during the summer peak through scheduled maintenance.

They outlined the operational capacities of the Al-Zour facilities, stating that the site includes eight LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 225,000 cubic meters, bringing the total storage capacity to 1.8 million cubic meters. The annual throughput capacity is 22 million tons, and the supply capacity reaches 3,000 billion British Thermal Units (BTUs). These capabilities allow the Al-Zour facilities to support local supply for up to 12 days at maximum without receiving incoming shipments, based on design and maximum capacity operations.

The presentation also covered the complete “ship-to-grid” supply system, where the Al-Zour LNG import facilities serve as a vital link between global LNG supplies and national gas network needs during periods of high demand. This process begins with the arrival of LNG carriers from global markets, followed by reception via marine jetties and the unloading system. The gas is then stored in high-capacity cryogenic tanks before being converted from LNG to natural gas through the regasification process, and finally supplied to the consumer network and power plants. Through this system, the Al-Zour facilities act as a bridge between global LNG supplies and national gas network requirements when demand levels rise.

**Summer Peak Challenge**

Under the theme “Summer Peak Challenge,” the presentation highlighted that fuel reliability for power and water plants is a central pillar of readiness. Summer sees a sharp increase in electricity and water demand, underscoring the importance of stable gas supplies in ensuring service continuity. These requirements are managed through flexibility in receiving global shipments according to market needs, maintaining a reserve based on strategic storage capacity capable of absorbing supply fluctuations, and ensuring rapid response by adjusting shipment volumes instantly to align with consumer network requirements.

A graph illustrating monthly gas demand in 2025 clearly reflected the impact of seasonal demand. Demand stood at 1,000 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) in January, dropped to 959 million in February, then rose to 1,174 million in March, 1,487 million in April, and 1,750 million in May. As summer months arrived, demand increased to 2,020 MMscf/d in June, peaking annually at 2,100 million in July. It then recorded 2,071 million in August and 1,971 million in September, before declining to 1,609 million in October, 1,107 million in November, and 1,090 MMscf/d in December.

Regarding supply management and maintaining operational readiness, the presentation outlined four mechanisms. The first involves shipment planning by coordinating the reception of LNG carriers with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) according to seasonal demand and inventory requirements. Inventory management relies on continuous monitoring with the global operator through round-the-clock operations to enhance facility efficiency. The system also includes supply management to the consumer network via continuous coordination and daily plan adjustments for rapid response to needs, alongside continuous monitoring, operation, and follow-up to ensure operational readiness is maintained.

The presentation also highlighted key operational indicators and achievements recorded up to 2026. The Al-Zour facilities received 445 carriers and took delivery of LNG equivalent to 67 million cubic meters, while the volume of gas supplied reached approximately 1,263,000 million standard cubic feet.

In terms of environmental and operational achievements, the facilities recorded a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 8,000 tons through nitrogen injection, in addition to adopting the gas re-liquefaction project.

The presentation concluded by emphasizing that the Al-Zour LNG import facilities constitute a key pillar in enhancing the security and flexibility of energy supplies in the State of Kuwait, particularly during summer peak demand periods. This is based on reliable supply, operational flexibility, and support for the needs of power and water plants.